UK road signs

[ozzy72]

It's a mistake anyone could make, especially if they have not glanced at the Highway Code since passing their driving test years ago.
The windsock sign is supposed to indicate side winds affecting a road, but it seems perfectly logical to interpret it as friendly information about a kite-flying area.
And the wonky car with squiggly lines may actually warn of a slippery road but could also easily indicate the presence of drunken drivers.
These explanations were given during a survey of 1,500 British motorists conducted to mark the 70th anniversary of the driving test. The results reveal that many drivers are baffled by signs common on the nation's streets.
Prudential Car Insurance found that 57% of those questioned could not interpret signs properly, with one in four admitting they were likely to ignore the only signs they know well - those indicating speed limits.
"Perhaps most worrying of all, during a fortnight of persistent snowfall and icy temperatures across the UK, only one in two drivers recognised the meaning of the road sign that warns of a 'risk of ice' on the road ahead," says the survey report.
The rest probably thought it warned of a conference of lace doily manufacturers.
"One of the reasons ... may be that only 3% of those surveyed confirmed that they have regularly referred to the Highway Code since passing their driving test," continued the report. "In fact over 50% admitted that they have not looked at the Highway Code since the day they passed."
One positive outcome was that 40% of drivers agreed that they would drive more carefully if naked roads - those with no signs, traffic lights, road markings or kerbs - became common. A third claimed they would also drive more slowly.
Helpful tip: the sign with an electric current passing between two blocks and causing a square-section rod to leap in the air is in fact a warning of an opening or swing bridge.

[eno]

Therein lies the problem ....... there is no system of retesting. IMO there should be a manditory Provisional period after initially passing the test, in which Motorway lessons should be compulsory. This should be followed by a stricter test 12 months later which would  include motorway driving. Anyone committing a serious motoring offence, or deemed as being responsible for a serious accident should be retested before being allowed to take to the roads again.

After that every 10 years there should be some sort of test to make sure peoples knowlege is up to date and they are healthy enough to drive .... eyesight/medical tests much the same as HGV drivers have to take after the age of 45.

[Craig.]

Eno, there are some people now campaigning for motorways to be included in the standard lesson plans here. It would be covered only when the instructor feels the pupil is ready but not be included in the test. As it is now its only avaliable in the pass plus course which few students take. And thats where alot of new drivers cause accidents because they are not used to motorways.

[ozzy72]

I actually took some motorway lessons after passing my test and I have to say they were worth it!

[Craig.]

i am planning on it myself as part of the pass plus course. It also brings down insurance a little apparently.